Microcatheter with distal tip portion and proximal solution lumen

Abstract

There is provided a microcatheter having a proximal solution lumen and a distal tip portion with a guidewire lumen. The microcatheter and methods of use thereof allows for introduction of solution into a vessel while manipulating the guidewire and/or the microcatheter itself. The solution may be a contrast solution, for viewing of the vessel, a therapeutic or diagnostic solution, or any other type of solution.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A microcatheter for providing support to advance a movable guidewire through a vessel or an occlusion within the vessel and for simultaneously providing means for local perfusion of a solution, the microcatheter comprising:
 an elongate tubular body having a body proximal end, a body distal end and a solution lumen extending axially through said elongate tubular body, said elongate tubular body having a body inner diameter, said elongate tubular body comprising an outlet port at said body distal end, said outlet port configured to introduce a solution from said solution lumen into a vessel; 
 a tip portion continuous with and distal to said elongate tubular body, said tip portion having a tip portion proximal end distal to said outlet port, a tip portion distal end and a tip portion lumen extending axially through said tip portion, wherein said tip portion lumen is continuous with said solution lumen, wherein said tip portion has a length extending from said tip portion proximal end to said tip portion distal end of at least 10 mm and a tip portion inner diameter which is smaller than said body inner diameter; and 
 a movable guidewire positioned within said tip portion, the movable guidewire having a distal end, wherein entirely along said length of said tip portion, said tip portion lumen is sized for a substantially close fit for the movable guidewire to be held therein thus providing support and enhanced pushability to the movable guidewire, wherein in a first configuration the distal end of the movable guidewire is in a first position with respect to the tip portion and in a second configuration the distal end of the movable guidewire is in a second position with respect to the tip portion, wherein the second position is distal to the first position, such that the guidewire may be advanced and manipulated within the vessel past the tip portion while also being supported by the tip portion, and such that when said movable guidewire is positioned within said tip portion, solution from said solution lumen is configured to exit through said outlet port and into the vessel. 
 
     
     
       2. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said elongated tubular body is configured to hold a proximal portion of the guidewire therein. 
     
     
       3. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said tip portion is separate from said elongated tubular body. 
     
     
       4. The microcatheter of  claim 3 , wherein said tip portion is eccentric to said elongate tubular body. 
     
     
       5. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said tip portion has a proximal opening at said tip portion proximal end, and wherein said proximal opening is not co-linear with said outlet port. 
     
     
       6. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said tip portion is at least partially radiopaque. 
     
     
       7. The microcatheter of  claim 6 , wherein said tip portion is comprised of a polymer compounded with radiopaque material. 
     
     
       8. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said tip portion is in a range of 10 mm to 120 mm long. 
     
     
       9. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said tip portion inner diameter is approximately 0.002″ larger than a diameter of a guidewire to be placed therethrough. 
     
     
       10. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said outlet port comprises multiple openings. 
     
     
       11. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said outlet port comprises an opening at said body distal end, wherein said opening leads directly into the vessel. 
     
     
       12. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a balloon positioned on said tip portion. 
     
     
       13. The microcatheter of  claim 12 , wherein said balloon is comprised of a compliant material. 
     
     
       14. The microcatheter of  claim 12 , wherein said balloon is comprised of a semi-compliant material. 
     
     
       15. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a spine wire extending along a length of said elongate tubular body and bonded thereto, said spine wire further at least partially connected to said tip portion. 
     
     
       16. The microcatheter of  claim 15 , wherein the spine wire has a tapered distal end. 
     
     
       17. The microcatheter of  claim 1 , wherein said tip portion is in a range of 10 mm to 90 mm long. 
     
     
       18. A method for providing support for manipulating a moveable guidewire and simultaneously providing solution to a portion of a vessel, the method comprising:
 providing a microcatheter having an elongate tubular body having a body proximal end and a body distal end with a body lumen extending axially therethrough and an outlet port at a distal end thereof, and a tip portion distal to said elongate tubular body and to said outlet port, said tip portion having a tip portion proximal end and a tip portion distal end, said tip portion having a tip portion lumen extending axially therethrough wherein said tip portion lumen is a continuation of the body lumen and wherein said tip portion lumen has a smaller diameter than a diameter of said body lumen, and wherein the tip portion is sized to provide support to a movable guidewire placed therein by providing a close fit for the movable guidewire along an entire length of the tip portion wherein the length of the tip portion extends from said tip portion proximal end to said tip portion distal end, wherein the tip portion is at least 10 mm in length; 
 placing the movable guidewire in the vessel; 
 advancing the microcatheter into the vessel by placing the movable guidewire through at least the tip portion of the microcatheter and advancing the microcatheter over the movable guidewire; 
 introducing solution into said elongate tubular body at said body proximal end with the movable guidewire still positioned within the tip portion; 
 injecting said solution into the vessel through said outlet port with the movable guidewire still positioned within the tip portion, wherein said injecting is done while minimizing overall exposure to the solution; and 
 advancing the movable guidewire distally from the microcatheter further into the vessel wherein the movable guidewire is supported by the tip portion during said advancing the movable guidewire. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said solution is contrast solution. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said solution is a therapeutic or diagnostic solution. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising simultaneously injecting the solution and advancing the guidewire in the vessel. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said solution is stored in said solution body lumen and wherein said injecting is done in such a way so as to minimize exposure of the vessel to said solution. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said tip portion is eccentric to said elongate tubular body, and wherein said guidewire is placed only through said tip portion. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising exchanging the guidewire by using said tip portion as a rapid exchange distal rail. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising advancing the microcatheter with the movable guidewire positioned within the tip portion of the microcatheter. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 18 , wherein said advancing the movable guidewire comprises advancing the movable guidewire through an occlusion.